As the chaotic semester begins with students registering for classes, meeting deadlines, and going in every direction possible, staff are overwhelmed with questions asked by students who seem to not have patience.

During the first week of school an altercation between two females erupted into a battle of verbal arguments. This caused a huge boisterous crowd of students to watch as if it was okay. Staff members were trying to break up the pandemonium and direct students to class at the same time. If this is what the first day of school brings, I wonder how the rest of the semester may end up.

Certain staff members, as well as students around campus, have not only dealt with disruptive behavior, but common courtesy has been the issue around campus with students. Members of staff deal with hundreds of students on a daily basis, and think some students should have the respect to show common courtesy, not only to staff but other students around campus.

I interviewed a student last semester who has a physical disability. He told me that when he exits or enters a door other students rush past him without holding the door for him. I have also witnessed students in class being asked questions by instructors, some students not even responding to them.

When I was a kid my Mother alone taught me and four other siblings to say yes mama, no sir, yes sir, thank you, you’re welcome, etc. I was also taught to hold the door when someone was entering or exiting, especially when it was an older male/female. And there’s no question about older women and men who were old enough to be my grandparents. You definitely better respect them even if they weren’t your grandparents. And if you used profanity, it better not had been used around kids or older adults. I was taught to love thy neighbor as thy self. And that means I MUST respect all human nature.

I noticed here in the west, young folk don’t understand or weren’t taught to have common courtesy, but its okay. I hope we could read this article and learn to apply common courtesy not only around campus but in our every day lives. Our little brothers and sisters imitate our behavior. As students and young adults we should be well aware of our respect and courtesy for one another. If we don’t set examples for the next generation of youth and kids, who will?

So let us put off the old un-learned behavior patterns and transform ourselves into someone new. We aren’t looking for perfection but common courtesy and respect for one another. It’s not hard to do – just do it. We are all in this together, so let us not forget this brother from the south is teaching and hoping to inspire and inform other students to jump on the band-wagon. I believe in you and we believe in each other.